Finishing Retaining Walls

Ending and Topping Retaining Walls

Use Mulch or Soil in place of AB Capstones.

Using AB Capstones to finish top of wall with fence above.

AB Capstones to finish top of wall that steps down the slope.

• Mulches: Allan Block's patented raised front lip provides a built-in edging for landscape rock, mulch, grass of soil.
• A Capstones: AB Capstones can be used to finish off the top of a wall. Use high grade, waterproof flexible masonry adhesive to secure in place.

Building Step Downs

Walls with step downs can be easily finished by adding an additional capstone or a half high block, or turning the ends back into the hillside.

• For a gradual step down, use the half-high blocks - AB Lite Stone from the AB Collection or AB Barcelona from the AB Europa Collection.
• For a full course step down, use the AB Corner Blocks from the AB or AB Europa Collection.
• For a step down that doubles as a planter, turn the wall in 2 or 3 blocks after a corner.
• Create a soft ending to the wall by using an inside curve while stepping down.
• Patterned walls with step downs, can be easily created.

For a gradual step-down, use additional capstones or half-high blocks.

For a full course step-up, use the AB Corner Block.

Stepping-down curves with retaining walls.

Building Turn-Ins

The simplest and easiest method of ending an Allan Block retaining wall is to use smooth flowing curves that turn back into the hillside. The benefits of curving the retaining wall back into the hillside include:

• For a graceful, flowing end to the wall, curve the wall to create a plantable area that can soften the look of the retaining wall.
• For a natural flow into the landscape curve the wall back into the hillside. TIP: The benefits of curving the wall back into the hillside include:
  • Less Time and Expense to Build
  • No Need for Corner Blocks
  • Superior Erosion Control
  • Attractive Design

When building a turn-in, a base trench will need to be excavated, backfilled and compacted, the same as the base course of blocks.

Proper backfilling and compaction is important, where the wall turns back into the slope. To ensure the turn-in area doesn’t settle differently than the rest of the wall, make sure the entire area below the new base is compacted thoroughly.

Flowing Turn-in of a wall.

Step down doubles as retaining wall planter, turn the wall in 2 or 3 blocks after the AB Corner Block.

For a natural flow in the landscape, curve the wall back into the hillside with step ups.